27/6/05

DREAM THEATER / OCTAVARIUM

Over the last 16 years Dream Theater have consistently come up with damn fine Progressive Metal albums that continually managed to keep their fan base interested, while other bands have run out of ideas or steam, or both Dream Theater just keep going strong.

This is their 8^th studio CD and you have everything here from the lengthy Heavy Progressiveness of "Root Of All Evil" & "These Walls" to the short, balladesque and simple "The Answer Lies Within". The title track is a 25 minute epic that reminds me of Pink Floyd "Wish You Were Here" album at times and then you have "I Walk Beside" that could easily be a hit single in the States, it reminded me of a very heavy Journey types song, so much that I had to check the sleeve notes to make sure the credits didn’t include the names, J. Cain or N, Schon.

This is a fine album and will keep the fans happy and perhaps gain new ones.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 75 mins + 8 TRACKS